Thread: Surge protection

Whitewood,

In answer 'yes'. IMO you can't have too much protection, only not enough. I can't afford to lose any data. I have surge protectors on all computer gear and the audo vuisual stuff as well. I also do regular backups (800GB) and store them in a fireproof safe in the workshop.

The best surge and lightening protection are the Belkin products. They not only guarantee their own product but also any equipment attached to it for life. I have two units replaced by Belkin with no questions asked. They sent the new units out by post with a return docket for the damaged units.

I don't have any insurance on any of my equipement because when you buy one of their units it's a one off payment for life and if you buy their biggest unit their cover is unlimited.

The lightening strike that does the most damage is the one that comes through the phone line and believe me it can happen because I have already had one computer destroyed by lightening before I purchased these surge protectors.

A good surge protector will help in certain situations, but NOTHING is a substitute for a good set of backup.

Like Barry has said, the phone line is actually where most of the stray voltage comes in from a thunderstorm. Looking for a path to ground via the PCs earth lead. I've had machines bought in that still had the smoking modem cables welded into the back of the machine, surge protector AND the wall socket which had blown out of the wall. Nothing is going to save you from that sort of hit.

A good UPS is a better level of protection as it also protects you from power brownouts and other more serious nastiness. Even a sudden power failure can mess with the data on the disk and prevent the machine booting. Not as bad as frying it totally, but you may still loose data.

But a good surge protecter will help, and a box of blank disks to make some backups

Ian

If your data isn't backed up, its obviously data you can do without.

With 500 gig hard drives costing around $100, and $20 for an external enclosure, there's really no excuse for not running a backup.

And before splashing your cash on an expensive surge protector, read this article...

http://www.dansdata.com/gz039.htm

I've got surge protectors on both my plasmas and video gear. I've lost a couple of cheap dvd players over the years not through lightning but brown outs. If the stuff is expensive and out of warranty then I can't recommend it enough. I'm also with the other guys, backup and backup often.

Cheers

Bryan

I have a surge protecter aswell, its called the Xstream powerguard and retails at 300 but i got it on sale for 150 from Bing Lee Store. Its one of the best with over and under voltage protection, interference filter, multi stage filter and programmable power-up delay. There are also surge protectors with battery backup built in like the APC ES700 that retails for 259 witch has 58 minutes of runtime after a blackout.
Do your research and find one thats right for you, cheers.

The lightning damage risk is low and is covered by insurance.

Lightning risk may be low but when you do get a surge a lot of equipment goes.

We had a strike once and lost TV, microwave, a fan and video as well as a few fuses. When we contacted insurance company, we had to prove it was a lightning strike that did the damage and a whole heap of other conditions.

End result was $600 out of pocket for repairs and a new insurance company.

I have a Smart Power Station PS10 made by Aussie company Thor Technology that protects my Home Theatre. The PS10 provides a constant 240v output even when input voltage varies (between 160v to 270v). So I'm protected against voltage spikes and brownouts. The unit has connections for and protects power, data (RJ45), TV aerial connections, cable TV.

The unit is not cheap ($1200+) but my Home Theatre costs considerably more but I'm more that happy with the unit and the support the company provides.

I have battery back up with surge protection as well, Plus wireless
router, also on backup with surge protection.

The computers are not really hooked to anything that can be effected
by out side sources.

A car hitting a pole or a backhoe digging up a cable can cause
as much damage as lightning.